SAN FRANCISCO, Cali. – A second-half equalizer from Ali Rogers brought the No. 24 FGCU women's soccer team back from an early deficit only for San Francisco to regain the lead five minutes later as the Eagles would fall 2-1 in the 2016 opener. FGCU opens the campaign 0-1 while San Francisco, coming off of a program-best 13 win season and an RPI of 73, starts 2016 1-0.

"It was a tough way to start a game," said head coach Jim Blankenship. "Two minutes in, we give up a penalty and suddenly we're down to a really good team on the road but I'm proud of the way the kids came back. Regardless, it's not the way we wanted to start the season. Overall, we thought we played well but when you go down early it's hard to come back from that. Their keeper came up with some really big saves throughout to keep them in front. After we scored we felt we had momentum only for them to bury their chance on a counter late in the match. Hats off to them for a great game."

On a windy and chilly night in The City by the Bay, the Eagles fell behind early after San Francisco converted from the penalty spot in the third minute. FGCU appeared to have USF on its heels as the match progressed but the Green and Blue could not break through until the second half. Midway through the second stanza, Rogers (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) found the underside of the crossbar on a left-footed effort to cancel out USF's early goal. Five minutes later, USF regained the lead and held on despite continuous pressure by the Eagles. FGCU outshot San Francisco 15-10 on the night, including an 8-4 shots on goal advantage.

The FGCU backline was tested early by the Dons, ultimately leading to the home side scoring an early goal. Following a foul just inside the box, San Francisco's Amanda Whittle converted from the spot to give her team a 1-0 lead just over two minutes into the match.

The Green and Blue settled in, allowing Camille Knudstrup (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS) to press forward forcing USF goalkeeper Makayla Presgrave to make her first save of the match. Presgrave would again be tested as Eagle newcomer Emilie Olsen (Frekhaug, Norway/Tertnes VGS) forced the goalkeeper to make a second save in the ninth minute of play.

One of FGCU's best opportunities of the first half came off the foot of Tabby Tindell (Ocala, Fla./Trinity Catholic HS) in the 16th minute. The senior found herself in space and beat Presgrave with a right-footed effort, only for it to hit the post and run out of play. Tindell had another look moments later off of a corner, but it curled wide of the bar.

As the first half approached the half-way point, Melissa Weck (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) made her first save of the evening, tipping Jessica Nakae's shot over the bar, resulting in two Don corners. The FGCU defense stood firm however, keeping the match at 1-0.

Tindell had a headed chance saved by Presgrave in the 24th minute as both teams began making first half substitutions. Lauren Greene (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins HS) came off the bench for the Green and Blue and with time winding down in the half, nearly tied the match as she tried to chip the ball over Presgrave from just outside the 18-yard box. The USF goalkeeper got her fingertips to the ball, sending it over the bar as FGCU went into the half trailing 1-0.

Nikki Hudson (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park County School) tried to get FGCU an early goal in the second half but her shot tailed wide of goal as the Eagles continued to maintain possession in the attacking half. Tindell and Rogers also had chances miss their target as the match reached the hour mark.

With FGCU pressing, the Eagles finally broke through. Rogers gained possession off of a Megan Young (White Lake, Mich./Walled Lake Northern HS) flicked on header along the right side of the field and dribbled toward the center of the box. From 17-yards out, the senior delivered a wonderful shot over Presgrave, hitting the bottom of the crossbar and over the line to tie the match. Young was credited with an assist for her first career point.

Following the goal, FGCU searched for a potential winner and it nearly came when Greene had a shot saved by Presgrave. Immediately, Presgrave's distribution led to a counter where Camille Wilson found Sonja Giraud who finished from 15-yards out to put the Dons back in front, 2-1.

Young had the final two chances for FGCU in the remaining ten minutes, but neither were able to best Presgrave as the Eagles fell 2-1 to the Dons in the season-opener.
Weck (0-1) made two saves in her collegiate debut. Tindell led FGCU with four shots while Rogers totaled three and Hudson added two more.

UP NEXT
FGCU faces UC Davis Sunday at 2 p.m. in San Francisco. The neutral site meeting is the final match on the West Coast for the Eagles before they return home to open a four-match home stand. Among the opponents for FGCU include 22-time national champions North Carolina (Aug. 26) and Ohio State (Aug. 28).

COACH JIM BLANKENSHIP
A veteran of over two decades in collegiate coaching, head coach Jim Blankenship, who was named the ASUN Coach of the Year in 2012, 2013, 2014 and now 2015, has built FGCU women's soccer into a yearly contender in the Atlantic Sun Conference and a rising program in the South Region in just nine seasons. Blankenship started the program in 2007 and has since guided the Eagles to nine double-digit win seasons, culminating with Atlantic Sun Regular Season Championships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. In 2011 and 2012 he also led the Eagles to back-to-back ASUN tournament championships and became the first team in the history of the university to make it to the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles went on to win the 2014 ASUN tournament and host the first NCAA Championship event on campus. The Eagles earned their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance with the 2015 ASUN Tournament Championship and won their first NCAA game at USF in 2015, while finishing 24th in the nation. Blankenship has guided FGCU to a 115-43-19 (70.7 W%) overall record through the first nine seasons of the program's existence, including a 60-9-10 (76.2 W%) mark in the ASUN. Blankenship's impressive career record of 355-114-30 (74.3 W%) over 25 seasons has come while leading FGCU, the University of Miami, Lynn University and St. Thomas University.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For constant, news, photos, videos and updates you can follow the women's soccer team on Twitter @FGCU_WSoccer, on Instagram @FGCU_WSoccer or on Facebook: Facebook.com/FGCUWSoccer. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.